Question:

One thing that rather surprises me about such discussions, is that we already have a very large range of very effective patterns, which catch fish most satisfactorily, when used correctly.  It might be possible to improve on these, although in many cases I doubt it.

Ah, but there’e the rub, or rather, at least two of them.  If one is buyng flies, and the seller is both knowledgable, and willing to share that knowledge, the purchaser may indeed wind up with the "correct" patterns and colors for the water in question.  However, if one is tying, then things get a bit tricky.  If one simply looks at what they see on or in the water, (or worse, simply look at non-POV relevant pictures of the thing they wish to imitate or simulate) and then look up patterns/color variants to match it to their eye, it may or may not be a match. It could get even worse.  For example, if they want a bi-visible, now there are two colors to consider, and the possible conflict of the sighting color.   I absolutely agree that the likelihood of there not being a printed pattern/variant recipe somewhere that will fill the bill is small, perhaps non-existent.  But, IMO, simply matching what you see to what you think you need is iffy at best, without keeping "what the fish sees" in your mind.  For example, a light-colored, lightly-dressed wet will, when viewed against a light background, look much different when viewed against the backdrop of a rocky lie or from below against a darkening sky, just as a similarly light-colored dry will when viewed from below against a bright blue sky, etc. TC, R

Response:

Letcher Lambuth, in 1936, did some studies with Pacific coast salt water bait fish.  Using gelatin filters to simulate the top 20 feet of the water column, he observed that candlefish and herring looked far different in the water than they did in the hand.  He then designed the Lambuth Herring and the Lambuth Candlefish using the colors that he saw via the filters.  Note that he did not have the advantage of studies of the mechanics of fish vision. We know, for examples, that after a certain depth red turns black, that green is the last color to remain identifiable, and that flash (tinsel, etc.,) requires light to be of any significance.  However, this is to our eyes not necessarily to the eyes of a fish. With due respect to Lambuth, a true pioneer, it seems to me that we are better served by dressing our flies, when we are tying something that is meant to be bait specific, with colors as exact to our eyes as possible. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that colors X, Y, Z; properly porportioned to match a bait would be identifiable to a fish as that bait at what ever depth and conditions the fish was used to viewing it? I’d appreciate your discussion. Crusty

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[snip] This underwater view is very much the subject of Lafontaine’s "The Dry Fly."  He and his partner conducted quite a few scuba dives to see how <SNIP Visit The Streamer Page at

http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html Skues book is indeed first class.  If you want a modern view I would suggest "The Trout And The Fly. A new approach"  By John Goddard and Brian Clarke. This book is, in my opinion, one of the finest works ever printed on the subject, and covers the subjects you mention very precisely and thoroughly, with excellent photography. My English copy was borrowed by somebody, and not returned. Most annoying. I still have a German copy though, so all is not lost. The ISBN number is 3-275-00803-X.  This number may be specific to the German version, I am not sure. However, a net search should turn up a copy for you. I have still not got LaFontaine

Question:

I wish you gents had FISH there in North Carolina.  I mean, some BIG fish.  14 – 20 inch rainbows and/or browns.

Could send one up here and I will try it on some 23" cutts I know of  Or maybe some big rainbows and browns on a few other pieces of water I know. Maybe I should have just broken down and bought a bloody bastard for myself…….By the sounds of it I should have.   Nice report Walt.  I was going to post a congratulations to you on your new tool and to George on what appears to be a job well done, but it didn’t sound right.  I’ll drink a cold one to your health and happiness and pray that I don’t catch minnows tomorrow. Warren

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wish you gents had FISH there in North Carolina.  I mean, some BIG fish.  14 – 20 inch rainbows and/or browns. Could send one up here and I will try it on some 23" cutts I know of  Or maybe some big rainbows and browns on a few other pieces of water I know. Maybe I should have just broken down and bought a bloody bastard for myself…….By the sounds of it I should have. Nice report Walt.  I was going to post a congratulations to you on your new tool and to George on what appears to be a job well done, but it didn’t sound right.  I’ll drink a cold one to your health and happiness and pray that I don’t catch minnows tomorrow. Warren

a small fortune and one doesn’t need to be making mistakes.  They don’t even come fitted, which is a mind blower.  But wrapping guides all night and fitting hardware on these Bamboo Beauties is a lot of work.  I don’t mind as long as I have people such as yourself interested in the future.  I should send you one just to try but I have no spare Bastards.  They’re all taken.  Can you use a 7.5′ 4 Wt Warren?  I’m working on one tonight to send to MAINE!  Do you hear that Maine?!  The Brown Truck cometh sooneth! — Mr. G.   ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

I am an average fisher and I would like to know if anyone out there would know of a good pole brand to buy that is now too expensive but gets the job done

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Pole?  Oh, boy are you gonna hear about that! Just head out to your local flyfishing shop and take a beginners class.  You’ll get to use their rods and find what appeals to you.  It’ll be worth the $ in the long run.   —  markb I am an average fisher and I would like to know if anyone out there would know of a good pole brand to buy that is now too expensive but gets the job done

"Some mornings I wonder if it was worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."  – E. Philips

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I am an average fisher and I would like to know if anyone out there would know of a good pole brand to buy that is now too expensive but gets the job done

  Might I suggest the BASTARD bamboo fly pole from Grand old American George Gerkhe?   Ah, shoot, you’re probably serious aren’t you?  St.  Croix is, I think, the best of the entry-level rods.

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stacmarsh wrote I am an average fisher and I would like to know if anyone out there would know of a good pole brand to buy that is now too expensive but gets the job done

Mr. Marsh (or is it Mr. Math) Please repeat after me: This is my rod.    I called it a pole. Now the ghost of ‘ol Izaak    Has damned my soul.  ;-) A "pole" is one of those bamboo things with some kite string tied on the end … you know … like George makes As for your question, I’m not too sure how to answer until I know what you mean by "not too expensive".  For example, since high end rods (graphite) can get upwards of $400 these days, a Sage Discovery Series at around $200+ is inexpensive by comparison.  And if you are not real experienced, it will be awhile before you can appreciate the differences between a good rod, such as a Sage DS, and one of the more expensive models. I started out with a rod that was less than $50, but it really is pretty much of a dog.  If you really intend to stay in the sport, a couple of C notes is worth it for a rod that’ll keep you satisfied for several years. —                                                       -dnc-

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Question:

says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I live in Butte, Montana, born and raised here.  Also lived and fished the Sierra Nevada’s near Truckee, CA for about 10 years.  I have degrees in Respiratory Therapy and a graduate degree in Biology.   Been a FF’er since the 70’s.  I very much enjoy still water fishing.  All those lakes near Truckee had a lasting effect.  Milton Reservoir remains one of my favorite places to fish.   I have read this group for the last couple of years and had kind of dropped it due to all the flames and off subject stuff.  I returned a few weeks ago and was surprised to see the lack of venom.  Personally, I enjoy  a fishing group that talks about fishing.   I am curious, what happened? Joe  

Howdy Joe, What happened? Well hell, as someone else put it, we all set down on the front porch and started drinkin’ and bs’n and it turns out we ain’t all so bad, different (‘ceptin wayno and i are johnny rebs) or f&*!ed-up as we originally thought. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath too long if I was you. I see storm clouds a buildin’ out west in the Rockies and up north Canady way. Tight lines, Wataugan Walt

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… I live in Butte, Montana, born and raised here.  Also lived and fished the Sierra Nevada’s near Truckee, CA for about 10 years.  I have degrees in Respiratory Therapy and a graduate degree in Biology.   Been a FF’er since the 70’s.  I very much enjoy still water fishing.  All those lakes near Truckee had a lasting effect.  Milton Reservoir remains one of my favorite places to fish. I have read this group for the last couple of years and had kind of dropped it due to all the flames and off subject stuff.  I returned a few weeks ago and was surprised to see the lack of venom.  Personally, I enjoy  a fishing group that talks about fishing. I am curious, what happened? Joe Howdy Joe, What happened? Well hell, as someone else put it, we all set down on the front porch and started drinkin’ and bs’n and it turns out we ain’t all so bad, different (‘ceptin wayno and i are johnny rebs) or f&*!ed-up as we originally thought. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath too long if I was you. I see storm clouds a buildin’ out west in the Rockies and up north Canady way. Tight lines, Wataugan Walt

    Rebels? In NORTH Carolina ? I was under the impression that everybody north of Jacksonville was a yankee. (that auta kick up some dust). Guess next time I see ya I’ll havta check if yer smoken backwoods en gulpin burbon en branch water ( I prefer southern comfort).                                                      John Popp                                                 pertnear south as ya get                                                   in Sanford Fl.

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Freud would have had a field day with this one.  I’ve heard about having an Oedipus complex, but I’ve never heard of suffering from the Rex. Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok…here’s mine.  Sorry to bore you, in advance. I am Fifi, the standard internet test poodle. I am a 6 year old miniature french poodle (white, female) owned by some very nice people in Canada.   I am very pampered and a very, very lucky little dog.  I have a beautiful studded collar that my owner, an elderly couple, got me for Christmas last year (human year).  I am well fed and groomed. Like I said, I am very lucky. Except for sometimes. That sometimes is when Uncle Jim comes by and is left alone with me or takes me to the poodle boutique.  He is a very mean man.  In the interest of good taste and politeness (I am french, after all) I will not elaborate on the details of his acts.   Once, though, he left me in the car on the hottest day of the year while he went in to some place that looked like a big doghouse and had sillohouettes of nude human females painted black on the outside.   Of course, I can’t speak and my owner never knows what he does. The best I can do is bark and try to bite him. — Fifi

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Which just goes to show you…never underestimate an ass. Jon "Fishing’s the last thing on my mind" Cook.

– Shoot far’ Jon, I’ve seen asses that couldn’t be *overestimated*! (-: Frank Church Elkhart, IN Over the hill?    What hill?    I didn’t see no hill….(!)

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Ok…here’s mine.  Sorry to bore you, in advance. I am Fifi, the standard internet test poodle. I am a 6 year old miniature french poodle (white, female) owned by some very nice people in Canada.   I am very pampered and a very, very lucky little dog.  I have a beautiful studded collar that my owner, an elderly couple, got me for Christmas last year (human year).  I am well fed and groomed. Like I said, I am very lucky. Except for sometimes. That sometimes is when Uncle Jim comes by and is left alone with me or takes me to the poodle boutique.  He is a very mean man.  In the interest of good taste and politeness (I am french, after all) I will not elaborate on the details of his acts.   Once, though, he left me in the car on the hottest day of the year while he went in to some place that looked like a big doghouse and had sillohouettes of nude human females painted black on the outside.   Of course, I can’t speak and my owner never knows what he does. The best I can do is bark and try to bite him. — Fifi

Response:

Ok…here’s mine.  Sorry to bore you, in advance. I am Fifi, the standard internet test poodle.

Bloody hell ! Reincarnation yet, thought you got burned to death in a pain threshold experiment.  Welcome back to ROFF. You will doubtless be pleased to here that one of the current discussions is Catfishing, and whether to release the beasts or not. This may at least give you some vicarious pleasure, and compensate you somewhat for the dastardly acts imposed on your good self by Uncle Jim. Seems there are a couple of people on here, very similar to Uncle Jim,  who have problems with cats actually, or maybe just the houses the cats live in ?  Whatever, glad to see you alive and barking. Fifi long thought to be dead, has again raised her elegant head, like a phoenix she rose, ( an unnatural pose ! ), and she still looks well groomed and  well fed. Pampered and polished she is, and goes once a week for a frizz, to the poodle boutique, with her uncle the freak, but no reason to get in a tizz ! The tests have now been postponed, cause Fifi was obviously stoned, you dont feel pain, when youre full of cocaine, and the lexus would have to be loaned. In the future we

Question:

Can someone let me know what conditions near State College are now and what they look like for this weekend?

Response:

The area got hit with a lot of rain this past weekend and streams went high again.  The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow morning and possible showers for the next few days.  Only if we don’t receive significant precipitation will the streams be fishable. Dave Rothrock

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The area got hit with a lot of rain this past weekend and streams went high again.  The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow morning and possible showers for the next few days.  Only if we don’t receive significant precipitation will the streams be fishable. Dave Rothrock

Hi Dave I missed the original post.  What part of PA mare we talking about? If it is central PA (i.e State College area), how has the fishing been so far this spring? Ed Sowinski

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Question:

Enjoy your reports.  Keep them up.  April 4 particularly important:  I was scheduled to fish out of Miami but had to cancel because I couldn’t get down there; rescheduled to June.  Interested in June 26, 27, or 29 with you; are those dates open?  If so, what’s the rate, what’s the likely target, and can my buddy spin fish? Dave Motes Oakton, Virginia

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Enjoy your reports.  Keep them up.  April 4 particularly important:  I was scheduled to fish out of Miami but had to cancel because I couldn’t get down there; rescheduled to June.  Interested in June 26, 27, or 29 with you; are those dates open?  If so, what’s the rate, what’s the likely target, and can my buddy spin fish? Dave Motes Oakton, Virginia

Dave, I don’t have any time open in the foreseeable future.  E-mail me at Thanks. Marshall

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Today promised to be a great day but turned out to be so-so because of the lack of fish.  We fished west of Key West on the oceanside flats during the morning and had four or five good shots at feeding permit that were mudding and tailing.  It was a good thing they were so active because the water was very silted up.  In fact a couple of fish never seemed to see the fly even though it was put right in front of them.  We did get three fish to tail on the fly but did not hook any of them. Because of the dirty water I went to the gulfside around midday but there was way too much water up on the flats there.  Between noon and 2 PM we saw one fish.  Fitz C. hooked and lost a cobia following a ray. Then we lost our visibility to high cloud cover.  We decided to go look for tarpon because the wind dropped, but couldn’t find any. Finally, we cast to some "floater" permit that were mooning and nymphing in a channel.  We got some follows but no takers. Marshall Cutchin

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Question:

 Does anyone out there have any idea of what the results of our recent  floods in Oregon will be on game fish?  How about our Salmon and  Steelhead populations, or even native trout?    Are there other resources on the internet more specifically for  northwest fly fishing?

I’ve found Creekside Flyfishing in Salem to have one of the best web sites on Oregon flyfishing resources.  You’ll find it at         http://www.halcyon.com/flyshop

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Does anyone out there have any idea of what the results of our recent floods in Oregon will be on game fish?  How about our Salmon and Steelhead populations, or even native trout?   Are there other resources on the internet more specifically for northwest fly fishing? Loren

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Does anyone out there have any idea of what the results of our recent floods in Oregon will be on game fish?  How about our Salmon and Steelhead populations, or even native trout?  

There are several threats to consider, sedimentation being top of my list.  Lots of reds were probably flushed away too– I’ve seen small fisheries destroyed by flooding due to logging, and they never recover.   There’s also the damage to the hatcheries, but that should only affect the age class that was to be released this year (although I’ve heard that the little game Congress played with the budget forced early release, and hence death, of millions of salmon).  I suppose the damge won’t be evident until spring… — Derek R. Larson           Indiana University        Dept. of History                 "Nothing interesting occurred today…"         -Meriwether Lewis at Ft. Clatsop, Oregon, Jan.4th, 1806

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Question:

Looking for any information on fly fishing for trout in the Phoenix, Arizona area, radius 250 miles.  Streams, rivers, lakes, etc..

Response:

Sedona, is w/in your 250 miles, boasts art galleries, shops, and great fishing. There is a small stream, Oak Creek Canyon, that holds Browns and stocked Bows. Fish above slide rock for the browns.  Tan Caddis larva was working well this month.  The White Mountains, about 200 miles east of Phoenix has a wide variety of streams and lakes, almost all of which are full of browns, bows, brookies, and the native Apache golden trout. (602)902-0881.

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Question:

Well, Merry Christmas, Paul! I too, had the good fortune to catch a few Christmas Trout a couple days early.  We had the same balmy weather in Iowa. Let’s hope it returns in January so we can get another cast at our slippery friends. Happy New Year to all! Jim Elias Blue Grass, IA h.y.m.r. Jim Elias Blue Grass IA H.Y.M.R.

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Tell me about Iowa Fly Fishing.  I’m from Omaha, NE.

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  Santa brought me some very hungry cutthroat trout.  The Bighorn is a great fall/winter fishing river, if you don’y mind getting cold.

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Oh my, your story warms my heart.  I spent the few days off practicing 8wt. lines on 6wt. rods (see other article), dropping flies on hard ice. Also working on the side casts.  City boys gotta dream during down time… Good luck on the Spring thaw. Tom  

Response:

Those of us in the Northeast USA were blessed with some outrageously balmy weather (about 45 – 55 degrees where I am) around Christmas.  With two days off before I had to travel, what else was there to do but try to catch a December trout, something which for me is a rare and wondrous thing…no spring creeks or tailwaters in the immediate vicinity.   The water was in good shape thanks to the melting snow.  Ice covered much of the slower portion of the pool I had chosen to fish, but the feeding lane was still open, and I was hoping that I could pick up a fish by bouncing a stonefly nymph along the bottom.  A few minutes of uneventful casting went by, and then what to my wondering eyes should appear but a trout head breaking the water across the stream from me, tight against the spot where a log and the bank made a break in the current.  I never would have expected to see a rising fish in this creek in late December, but careful observation showed that he was definitely on the feed, rising about once every minute or so.  From the rise form I guessed he was eating midges, but I couldn’t see any on the water so I figured a midge pupa pattern fished in the film would do the trick.  I tied a #16 White Wulff to the end of my 6X tippet, then tied a length of 7X to the bend of the hook; to this I attached a #24 pupa pattern I tie with a black thread body, gold wire rib, and peacock herl head.  I rose that fish three times, but was so excited that each time he came up behind my Wulff "strike indicator" I struck way too early…I kept telling myself to wait until I saw the Wulff move but just couldn’t control my hair-trigger nerves. Finally my fish (for by this time I had decided he was mine) stopped rising.  I switched back to my nymph rig, and lo and behold on the first cast near the log my strike indicator paused and I struck back, more out of surprise than anything.  Sure enough, there was my Christmas trout, a 12 inch brookie, and after a careful fight I had him, cold and firm and healthy, lit up like a salmonid Christmas tree.  A short pause to twist the hook free and to admire the contrast between my dark fish and the winter landscape around me, and then I let him go, watching him swim slowly back to his lair beneath the log.  There were other likely looking spots beckoning downstream, but I decided to preserve this happy moment by reeling up, getting out of the water, and strolling back to the car through the quiet, snow covered woods.  Christmas was on its way. Paul DiConza NY Capital District Angler

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Question:

: Does anyone know who makes Cabella Fish Eagle fly rods I was watching a video by Stu Apte on Saltwater Fly fishing and he mentioned in passing that Cabella’s rods were built by G Loomis. Any Confirmations? Rodney Singapore

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 This reel was almost certainly made by the Sth company in Argentina.  It was identical in design and even carried the same symbols but a different label. Cannot speak for the new reels included in packages except to say that the new cassette fly reel looks surprisingly like the Sth cassette reels (just a guess).  

Yes, this would make sense because STH makes Loomis reels and the head STH engineer Roberto Sacconi is a friend of Gary Loomis. Loomis claims to be a real believer in the STH system. Cal — Fishin Buddy  o <<     o  |           These opinions are offered by weight  <     <  o       <J           provocative content may have occurred      <<       <<                    during shipping and handling.

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J.Vogel) says: Does anyone know who makes Cabella Fish Eagle fly rods I think the conclusions reached on the net include the following: Cabela uses rod blanks from G. Loomis to manufacture its fly rods.  We never decided who actually makes the rods but seemed to agree that they are of good quality and reasonable for the $$. My own experience supports this claim.  The outfit that I have included the Fish Eagle II rod and an MCD reel.  This reel was almost certainly made by the Sth company in Argentina.  It was identical in design and even carried the same symbols but a different label. Cannot speak for the new reels included in packages except to say that the new cassette fly reel looks surprisingly like the Sth cassette reels (just a guess).  I believe you also asked a question about who makes the Cabelas reel (in another post)…this reply may answer that.  If you are asking about spinning reels, we have discussed this and never reached an answer. Hope this helps.  Scott Maitland

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